How to Tame a Boa

[eddyhead]

ok so i think i might own the worlds deadliest 30 inch boa.... (or at least thats what he thinks) anyone but me he is almost always in strike mode around them, me he usually is really nice and fun, but today when i took him out well that was a different story i took him out re arrange his cage cause he hates when i mess with stuff while he is in there, so i put him on the couch and well that is all she wrote, he was like a cobra striking at anything that moved i couldn't get near him. i ended up having to throw a towel over him cause frankly i don't feel like getting bit right now. I did notice his tail is a lot darker than normal, could he be going into shed and thats why he's so aggressive? and at the show he was so nice but since i've brought him home he has been nasty...am i a bad parent and doing something wrong?

[Gary Orner]

ok so i think i might own the worlds deadliest 30 inch boa.... (or at least thats what he thinks) anyone but me he is almost always in strike mode around them, me he usually is really nice and fun, but today when i took him out well that was a different story i took him out re arrange his cage cause he hates when i mess with stuff while he is in there, so i put him on the couch and well that is all she wrote, he was like a cobra striking at anything that moved i couldn't get near him. i ended up having to throw a towel over him cause frankly i don't feel like getting bit right now. I did notice his tail is a lot darker than normal, could he be going into shed and thats why he's so aggressive? and at the show he was so nice but since i've brought him home he has been nasty...am i a bad parent and doing something wrong?

Stress bro. Think of it this way. You are the snake and you are placed on the couch. you see a huge animal running buy trying to pick you up. It goes into defensive mode. Not mean....

try using a box or a tub to place him in while you work in the cage.

A bite from that size will break the skin but will scare oyou more then anything. It might be a one time thing too. My calmest snakes have their days.

[eddyhead]

Stress bro. Think of it this way. You are the snake and you are placed on the couch. you see a huge animal running buy trying to pick you up. It goes into defensive mode. Not mean....

try using a box or a tub to place him in while you work in the cage.

A bite from that size will break the skin but will scare oyou more then anything. It might be a one time thing too. My calmest snakes have their days.

yeah its just been the last couple days, he used to be good to where he would want to come out and would just crawl all over me and be very ornery just like a boa, but the reason i put him on the couch is because he almost struck me when i was holding him so i put him down.

lately hes seemed nervous to come out but usally i just lightly rub on the side and he immedietly is ready to come and be his normal self, but not today i rubed him and he was still not wanting. i should of left him in

[Gary Orner]

Yeah some people call them bad scale days. Sometimes it could be just the snake going into blue. It could be something spooked them. I would not worry about it so much. give the little guy a few days and then try again. Before you know it he will be back to his normal self.

[starmom]

Hey Zach!~ My little Zelda sends very clear signals to me and I totally respect those signals given she'll be very big and strong one day!! When she goes into an 's' when I'd like her to come out and amuse me, I just leave her along for another day. This is usually all that it takes!
She just got finished with a shed and had a piece still on her tail. 2 days ago I tried to take her out but she really wasn't into it. Yesterday I took her out, got the skin off and held her for a long time. She was very cool and seemed to be diggin the change of scenery.

[Patrick Long]

How often do you "re arrange" his cage? They get really stressed when you move things about all the time. I would give him like a week or so with just the neccesities and see how he is then.

Remember, hes a new guy to you, and hes prolly still not too sure about things!

Good luck!

[Monty]

yea i got a narsty 6 foot boa about a month and a half ago and now hes awesome with me but nasty to other people it has to do with his stress level and his comfort and security. so if hes stressed out hes gonna lash out if hes hungry same thing if he just doesnt wanna be bothered hes gonna do it i was struck at once by my big guy but that was when i first when to pick him up outta the tank at the petstore and everyone there ran away and thought i was crazy for wanting him. but i would recheck your husbandry and see if he has any security issues

[eddyhead]

the reason i rearrange his cage is because i removed everything that he could climb on, cause the vet told me to, and i was just putting it all back in...he has not used his hide once in the 3 weeks but i do have some plants and i made to where he could get behind it for cover and he really likes that..i did take the hide out cause it was just taking up space

[Patrick Long]

Ok good. Just have patience and he will get better!

[Dcommander]

I trick Ive used it put a used tshirt into the tank, like the one u use for sleeping, that way they get used to your scent, and beleive me, it really works!